Over 1 Billion Trees To Be Planted For ‘International Year of The Forests’

Campaigns for raising awareness hope to draw attention to the success stories and lessons of sustainable forest management.

Several countries and environmental NGOs have pledged to plant trees and raise awareness about forests next year as part of the International Year of the Forests. According to the latest report on preparations published by the United Nations, 2011 "offers a unique opportunity to raise public awareness of the challenges facing many of the world's forests and the people who depend on them."

Campaigns for raising awareness hope to draw attention to the success stories and lessons of sustainable forest management. In addition to public service announcements and art, film and photo competitions on the theme of "Forests for People," several countries have made plans to plant more trees, distribute seedlings and provide post-planting guidelines for tree care. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea plans to plant more than 1 billion trees throughout the country next year.

The International Year of Forests campaign comes at an opportune time as new studies indicate that trees may become an important source of fuel in the near future. Rising costs of non-renewable energy are pushing governments and citizens across the world to make bioenergy a priority. The Woodland Trust reported that 1 in 10 landowners in the UK are joining efforts to plant trees and grow their own sustainable fuel sources. Trees are also tipped to become a major source of energy in New Zealand over the next three decades.

"Knowledge of tree care is essential to ensuring high yield," said John Rise of Premiere Tree Services, Charlotte, North Carolina. "People have more resources at their disposal than ever before to get to know the trees around them and start planting their own."

Due to increased awareness of the environmental problems caused by deforestation, many countries have already adopted significant reforestation efforts, increasing the amount of woodland in 22 nations. A study conducted in 2006 predicted that current trends, if continued, can lead to a 10 percent increase in the world's forest cover by 2050.